A lot of people these days just take there $1000
camera with there point and shoot and do weddings, There is so much more to
professional wedding photography than that. In this photo I am going to explain
the thought process and the technical elements of the photograph, which the
normal person probably won't understand but that’s ok because that’s why it is
important to hire a professional photographer that does understand these
elements so you won't have to. Its what separates the amateurs from the
professionals!
I had this picture in my mind for some time it was
just a matter of getting a wedding and a bride at the Lafayette hotel in
buffalo NY to do the shot and at this wedding it was perfect.
The 1st. element to this photograph is lighting, I
choose 1 light off camera to the brides left high enough above her to cause the
shadow directly behind her because I wanted to create that dramatic look. The
lighting to this photo is very important because you would not be able to get
this with flash on camera you need off camera directional light to get this.
With the light off to the side It does several things, It gives good
directional light on the subject (appropriate to the look I am going for) It
also give that old fashioned glamor look to the photo which I picked because of
the hotel and the background of the photo being an old time look. Also the
dress had a lot of detail in the dress and by lighting the dress across the
side it brought all that detail and texture of the dress.
I also love the chiaroscuro (Chiaroscuro lighting emphasizes the contrast of
light and dark to give an illusion of depth and to create volume) along the
side of the brides face and neck. To me the bride almost pops out of the photo.
I knew this pictures was going to end up B&W so that why I new the shadows
were gong to play an important role in the end image.
I also like the composition of the image. I like
the way the lines of the mail boxes behind the bride all lead into the bride, I
like that the bride is looking out of the photo because it makes me wonder what
she is looking at and the use of B&W as we'll as the old time setting of
the photo makes this a classic because 10, 20, 30 yrs. down the road unless you
where there or knew these people you will wonder when this photograph was
taken, making it timeless!
All these details and all these decisions on making
this photo had to made in the matter of minutes. Other than the overall idea of
what I wanted I had nothing else preplanned or figured out. So when we got to
this I had to get the best possible picture I could and consider all these
elements very quickly. That is hard to do with out my 13 yrs. of experience.
This picture is one of my favorites because all that came together in this
photo, my experience, my knowledge, and my vision all came together to make
this image. Something that is very hard to do until you have experience.
Now post processing all I did was make this B&W
all my other factors were all thought out, planned and executed in the camera,
No "post processing" or "editing" was needed I strongly
believe and live by the fact that I am a photographers and I should not have to
use a computer to create my final image, I don't need filters, or other
instagram looking things to create my vision. I do it in the camera with technical
knowledge and that is another things that separates a professional from an
amateur.
